Friday, 14 June 2013

Hi All!How many of you love silver jewellery? I sure do! but there is something about my body chemistry that turns any silver that I wear, black...........

Some one told me to scrub my silver with toothpaste/toothpowder, but it was too much hard work, and did not really change the colour of tarnished silver for me. Others told me to boil my silver in detergent water, but that didn't work very well either. Recently a friend shared this recipe with me which had been give to her by her mom.I tried it out with two sets I wear regularly, a pair of anklets which I have been wearing for nearly seven years and they had turned quite black. Another is a pair of silver bangles which belong to my mother and are about as old as I am........ So , they were quite tarnished! I was pleasantly surprised as to how simple and quick this method was. So I thought, why not share it with you as well.What you need:

Wednesday, 12 June 2013

OK.......... How many coffee lovers out there? Many............ i can safely assume. Some of us want the early morning fix to start the day, some need cup after cup, or should I say mug after mug to get through the day. And there are others,like me who drink coffee for fun.

there has been a whole lot of research on the benefits or ill-effects of coffee and the jury is still out, but in the mean time, it seems coffee has some excellent beauty benefits (ok, ok the BB effect)!

So lets first look at the properties that make it an excellent skin care agent.

Caffeine
has potent anti-inflammatory properties that make it ideal for reducing
inflammation and redness in your skin. In a 1981 study performed at the
Seoul National University, researchers found that caffeine is able to
reduce inflammation almost as well as aspirin; in a 1978 performed at
the University of Tennessee, researchers found that adding caffeine to
anti-inflammatory creams significantly increased their effectiveness.
Overall, use of skin care products containing caffeine will reduce and
prevent inflammation and redness, leaving you with a beautiful, even
skin tone.

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Although caffeine
cannot completely erase hereditary dark circles, applying caffeine under
your eyes will reduce the puffiness and inflammation associated with
dark circles. Additionally, caffeine reduces the build-up of blood under
your eyes which contributes to dark shadows. Several eye creams contain
caffeine, or you can apply moist tea bags to your eyes for five minutes
to reduce puffiness and give you a more alert appearance.

Caffeine
can also reduce the appearance of cellulite. In a 2008 study performed
at the University of São Paulo, researchers found that an application of
skin cream containing caffeine to cellulite reduced the size of
cellulite fat cells by 17 percent. In addition, a 2007 study performed
at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro found that caffeine cream
applied to cellulite decreased the hip's diameter in almost 70 percent
of participants. A number of anti-cellulite creams have been developed
to reduce the appearance of cellulite, or you can take advantage of the
power of caffeine by adding ground or instant coffee to your regular
body scrub at home.

(Credits: www.livestrong.com)

How can coffee be used for beauty care? The best way to use coffee for home beauty treatments is using filter coffee. Instant coffee usually leaves no residue. Filter coffee actually contains the skin of the coffee bean. This skin of the coffee bean is what gets left behind after it had been brewed in a coffee maker or the more traditional South Indian filter for getting the decoction of coffee. The residue left behind is what is best as a beauty aid. If you do not have access to filter coffee, instant coffee should suffice. But be warned that it will stain your skin (since it will be stronger than the brewed filter residue)

A Simple trick to start you out.

Give your skin a buzz with used coffee grounds (filter coffee residue after brewing). Simply scrub the crumbly goodness all over your body for a
natural exfoliant. Rubbing grounds into your skin will slough off dead
skin cells and leave your skin feeling refreshed. For a smoother scrub,
add a bit of olive oil to the grounds.

Hands feeling rough and dry? Rub your hands together using the same recipe, and see the difference.

A Do-it-yourself facial

No need for high-end (and high-priced) spa treatments to get your
skin glowing. Indulge in a coffee grounds facial to soften the delicate
skin on your face.Simply mix together these ingredients:2 tablespoons freshly ground coffee (or used grinds)2 tablespoons cocoa powder3 tablespoons milk (whole), heavy cream or yogurt1 tablespoon honeyMassage this chocolatey delicious mask into your skin in the morning
for a quick perk up. Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse
it off thoroughly. This yummy mask will help tighten pores and remove dead cells. The
coffee grinds will help reduce puffiness and swelling, while the cocoa,
honey and milk will add moisture to your skin. Some people report brown staining on skin. In which case reduce the wait time. If you have very oily skin, prone to break outs, you might want to ignore the honey and use low fat milk

Now for something more luxurious....

Egyptian Revitalizing Coffee Scrub Recipe

INGREDIENTS

3 Tablespoons of moist, used coffee grounds

1 Tablespoon of Extra Virgin Olive Oil or coconut oil

1/3 teaspoon of pure honey ( use more if your skin is extra dry)

DIRECTIONS

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl.

Wash your face with cool water to remove any dirt or makeup.

Apply the scrub to your face and massage gently in a circular motion.

Let scrub sit on your face for 1-2 minutes.

Rinse scrub off with cool water.

Pat your face dry with a clean towel.

You can even use it for a whole body exfoliation. But be warned of the mess in the bathroom.

A lot of anti-ageing creams have caffeine in them. So, rubbing coffee grounds into your skin is a great way to beat the wrinkles without burning a hole in your pocket!

Using coffee as an exfoliator or face mask makes my skin feel fabulously soft and deliciously smelling of coffee.............. :)

These scrubs are supposed to fight cellulite too. Mix 1/4 cup warm, used coffee grounds with 1 tablespoon of olive or coconut oil,
then, while standing over an old towel or newspaper, apply the
mixture to your "problem areas". Next, wrap the areas with shrink wrap
and leave on for several minutes. Unwind the wrap, brush loose grounds
off your skin and then shower with warm water. For best results, it is
recommended to repeat this procedure twice a week. A little weird to be
sure, but as high priced cellulite creams actually have coffee in them,
it just might work (This I have not tried)

It seems you can use coffee as a great hair care agent too.

Rubbing in some coffee grounds into your scalp and hair helps condition and make your hair shiny. It works really well for those with dark brown or black hair.

Compost Material – Coffee grounds fit the standards
set by gardeners for compost materials. The grounds, when mixed with
soil, release nutrients that make the ground richer. If you have a good supply
of coffee grounds, just spread them evenly in your garden or pots. Your plants
will reward you by producing robust blooms.

There are so many more uses of coffee other than just drinking it. If you have a secret use for coffee let me know.............Till then,take care..........

Sunday, 9 June 2013

Hello again! I have been using Somi's Ayurvedic products for the last couple of years and have got good results with some of the products. So, I thought it would be a good idea to share my experience about these products with you.Today, I am going to review Glow Active Face and Body Grains.First let us look at the product:

I have put in a picture of Glow Shine Solution because both these products have to be used in combination.

Polysorbates 20...........0.1 ml (are a class of emulsifiers used in some pharmaceuticals and food preparation. They are often used in cosmetics to solubilize essential oils into water-based products.)

Sorbitol.......................0.05 ml (often used in modern cosmetics as a humectant and thickener.Sorbitol often is used in mouthwashes and toothpastes.)

Propylene Glycol.........0.05 ml (is a humectant, which means it helps the skin to absorb
moisture. It
helps to carry the water-based ingredients into the skin.)

Ashwagandha has anti-aging, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and moisturizing properties.Saurashtri Mrittika, probably multani mitti removes dead cells from the skin making space for it to breathe. It helps in removing acne and blemishes to a great degree. It is well capable of
removing all the impurities from your skin so that your pores are not
clogged anymore. It improves blood circulation also. It is an antiseptic agent and improves blood circulation.It is useful in soothing sunburns.

Haridra or turmeric: skin care benefits associated with turmeric, include the treatment of
acne blemishes, blackheads, dark spots and hyper-pigmentation and other
skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It helps heal and prevent
dry skin, and to slow the skin aging process, and is used to diminish
wrinkles, keep skin supple and improve skin’s elasticity. This spice is also being used as an ingredient in sunscreens

Indications: Helps in lightening blemishes and protects skin from infections.Method of Use: Take equal amounts of Glow active grains and Glow Shine solution to make a smooth paste, add a few drops of water if required. Apply evenly on face and neck. Leave on skin for 5 minutes, gently scrub face and wash off with cool water. Use 3-4 times a day.Price: Glow Active: INR 115 for 200 g and Glow Shine Solution: INR 250 for 200ml.What it did for me: The product has suited my oily and sensitive skin type very well. I of course keep on the application till it dries completely. It really cleans out my skin of daily dirt and grime and oil (did i mention I have very oily skin?) feeling fresh, without leaving it feeling stretched and scratchy. I have not felt the need to use a face wash when I use this product. My skin is very prone to pimples, but since I have used this product, I have had lesser break-outs even during peak humidity in summers.I have even used the solution on its own on some cotton-wool to clean my face on the go. Quite effective!

Now let us look at the overall picture:

Pros:

Almost completely natural (except for the preservatives)

The ingredients are all geared towards removing excess oil from skin and fighting infections.

The ingredients are safe unless someone has an allergy to a particular item.

Doesn't harm the environment (chemical soaps and face-washes have elements which are pollution and non-biodegradable)

Wednesday, 5 June 2013

I prefer to review products only after having used them for a month. For any product to show results, positive or otherwise, it needs to be used regularly as instructed .........mainly to be fair to the product as well.

So today I will look at how Arish Face Cleanser for Oily to Acne Skin worked for me.First let us look at the product:

It is a simple, oblong bottle with a flip top. The entire cap can be screwed open as well if you want more of the product on the cotton ball. It is a colourless liquid, like water.Ingredients: Every 5 ml of the product contains:

Lemon is a tiny package which packs a bomb of health and beauty benefits.It is packed with vitamin C, the health benefits of which are not unknown. It is great for skin because of its anti-bacterial and astringent properties. Lemons' natural acids can gently exfoliate and cleanse oily skin,
leaving it toned and even. Liquid lemon juice can penetrate buildup and
remove impurities, leading to tighter, cleaner skin less prone to
breakouts. Lemon juice can be added to any home acne remedy to give it a
breakout-fighting boost.

Lavender: It has anti bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore beneficial for sensitive and acne prone skin. It is also known to relax and ease tension and stress. The essential oil of lavender is used extensively in aromatherapy and beauty products.

Indications:It is supposed to remove dirt and oils from deep within the pores, maintain Ph balance of the skin and helps in prickly heat, rashes, effective for acne and pimples. Shelf life: is a reasonable 3 years from the date of manufacture.Price: INR 185/-for 100mlWhat I like about the product:

Nice handy packaging. Can be easily carried in hand-bag.

Lovely lemony fresh smell

What I don't like:

My skin never really felt clean and fresh

My skin remained slightly sticky even after wiping 3 times.

Did not do much for my oily, pimple prone skin.

The price is a bit steep for the kind of work it did.

So will I buy this product again? No.

I thought Rose water of any brand did a better job for me at INR 37/- for 120 ml (Dabur Gulabari Rose water).

Maybe if the manufacturers increased the proportion of Lemon and lavender oils in the cleanser, it might be more effective. Otherwise, apart from the first buy out of curiosity (like I did), many will not go for a second buy.

Wednesday, 29 May 2013

Most of us use different beauty care products. We like some, we love some and we hate others. Today I am going to review a product that I have been using for a while. It is called Glow Shine.It is a face pack for oily and sensitive skin. It has been prepared by Somi Gupta who is quite a well-known name in beauty care in West Bengal.

It is completely herbal with no additives. I will just run you through the ingredients. Every 5gm of product consists of :

Arjuna .... 1g (The bark of the arjuna tree. It has astringent properties and is useful for acne prone skin).

Method of Use: Equal parts of powder and water to make a paste. Apply evenly on face and neck. Allow it to dry. Wash off with cool water.Indications: It removes excess oil from the surface of the skin. Reduces break outs.

Ok, time for breaking the mysteries of another spice. Today I'll talk about fenugreek of methi.

To begin with, methi is not just a spice. It has been used in three forms, as a herb (dried or fresh leaves), as a spice (seeds), and as a vegetable (fresh leaves, sprouts, and microgreens). It is bitter to taste and has a strong fragrance.

Let us list the health benefits of fenugreek:

Methi seeds are very useful for lactating mothers. It helps increase a mother's milk supply.

Eases women’s health problems : Fenugreek contains compounds like diosgenin and isoflavones with
oestrogen-like properties which help reduce symptoms like discomfort and
menstrual cramps associated with PMS. These compounds also ease
menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and mood fluctuations. Women are
more prone to iron deficiency during adolescence (initiation of
menstrual periods), during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Including green
leafy veggies like fenugreek (methi) in your diet can supply a
good amount of iron. But make sure to add tomatoes or potatoes to the
preparations to enhance the iron absorption.

Helps ameliorate metabolism among diabetics. Galactomannan, a natural soluble fibre present in fenugreek slows down
the rate of sugar absorption into blood. Fenugreek also contains amino
acid responsible for inducing the production of insulin.

Reduction in cholesterol: According to studies fenugreek helps to reduce cholesterol levels, especially that of the low density lipoprotein (LDL).

Reduces cardiovascular risk: Fenugreek seed has cardiovascular benefits due to the presence of
galactomannan. It lowers the risk of heart attack. It is also an
excellent source of potassium which counters the action of sodium to
help control heart rate and blood pressure.

Prevents acid reflux or heartburn: One teaspoon of fenugreek seeds in your food can be an effective
remedy for acid reflux or heartburn. Mucilage of fenugreek seeds coat
the lining of the stomach and intestine and sooth irritated
gastrointestinal tissues. Before consuming, you can soak the methi seeds in water to make their outer coat mucilaginous.

It is a remedy for fever and sore throat: Fenugreek when taken with a teaspoon of lemon and honey can work
wonders to reduce fever by nourishing the body. The soothing effect of
mucilage in fenugreek also helps to relieve cough and pain from sore
throat.

Can Prevent colon cancer: The fibre content (saponins, mucilage, etc.) of fenugreek binds to
toxins in the food and flush them out. This in turn helps to protect the
mucus membrane of the colon from cancers.

Helps Lose weight by suppressing appetite: Include fenugreek in your weight loss diet by chewing soaked methi
seeds in the morning on an empty stomach. The natural soluble fibre in
the fenugreek can swell and fill the stomach thereby suppressing your
appetite.

Cure for skin inflammation and scars: Apply methi seed paste for effective treatment of skin problems like burns, boils, eczema, etc. Fenugreek seeds also help in getting rid of scars.

As a beauty product: Fenugreek can be an excellent ingredient for your home-made beauty
product. Fenugreek can be used in face packs to help prevent blackheads,
pimples, wrinkles, etc. Washing your face with water boiled with
fenugreek seeds or applying a paste of fresh fenugreek leaves for twenty
minutes on your face can work wonders for your skin.It may be a solution to many hair problemsUsing fenugreek as a part of your diet or as a paste to directly apply on your hair makes your hair shiny and black.
Massaging your head everyday with fenugreek seeds boiled in coconut oil can be an excellent remedy for thinning of hair
and hair fall. Fenugreek is also great in controlling dandruff

Methi/Fenugreek has also been used as a beauty aid for centuries:

1.Start your day with Fenugreek:Drink half a glass of methi soaked water (recipe given below) on an empty stomach. It not only helps in reducing hair loss but also brings a whole range of health benefits listed above. Make a paste of the seeds and apply to
scalp.Cover with a showercap for 30 minutes and wash off with a herbal
shampoo. Don't let the paste dry on your scalp because it is difficult to wash off when dry.

3.Nourishing Fenugreek hair oil: :Ayurveda recommends keeping the scalp moist and cool with oil massages of herbal hair oils made by infusing coconut oil or sesame oil by boiling fenugreek seeds in it.4. Anti Dandruff Hair-Pack:A paste of methi leaves or seeds mixed with apple cider vinegar, when applied to the scalp is good for treating dandruff and dry itchy scalps.

5.Anti Acne Pack:Applying the paste of fenugreek leaves or seeds and turmeric on your face is very good for pimple and blackheads prone skin.

6. Anti Aging Face-Pack:Make a paste
of fenugreek leaves or seeds with boiled milk and add honey to it.
Applying this to your face delays the appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles. It not just improves the complexion but also makes one look
years younger

7.Moisturising Hair Pack for Shiny and silky Hair:Fenugreek works wonders on dry hair,because if its high mucilage and
protein content .It softens your tresses and adds shine to dull hair. Soak fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Once the
seeds become soft, grind them to a paste. Mix the paste with half its
quantity of curd. Apply the pack to your hair and leave on till it for
half an hour.Wash it off with a mild herbal shampoo . The result will
be soft and silky hair you will love to touch.

8.Add volume and bounce to your hair: Apply a paste
of fenugreek seeds to condition your hair while adding volume to it.
This mask is a little messy but is quite worth the effort.Leave it on
for 30 minutes and rinse it as usual with a herbal shampoo.Early Morning Elixir Methi Seeds : 1 Spoon

Water : Half Glass(Approx 300 ml)

METHOD:

1.First
boil the half glass of water. Cool it so that its still warm and not hot any longer. After that take a
spoonful of methi seeds and soak these methi seeds in that boiled water overnight..

2. Early next morning filter the
seeds from that water and drink the water with empty stomach.

3.This should be done daily .If you are unable to do this daily, you may do this 3-4 times a week.

Eat fenugreek in all its forms... the seeds, fresh leaves in sabzis puris and parathas, dried leaves to flavour your curries and raitas, sprout them with your regular moong and channa.

Monday, 27 May 2013

Turmeric is natures miracle spice. It has been used in food preparation, as a medicine and as a beauty aid in many parts of the world from times immemorial. It is such an amazing product that there have been attempts to patent Turmeric!! Thankfully, any such attempt has been turned down so far.

Lets start with some trivia about Haldi/Turmeric.

The Botanical name of Turmeric is Curcuma longa L. It is part of the ginger family. Curcumin is the active ingredient in turmeric which has been shown to
have a wide range of therapeutic effects. Curcumin is known for its
antitumor, antioxidant, anti-amyloid and anti-inflammatory properties. The rhizome or root of turmeric plant is used to make turmeric spice.
The rhizome is boiled and then let to dry. The rough skins are removed
and grounded to make a fine rich yellow turmeric powder. Turmeric is
natural preservative. When added to Indian delicacies such as curry and
rice, it gives a rich color and slight flavor to food. Turmeric
combines well with spices such as chilli powder, coriander powder,
cumin, and cinnamon.

Medicinal benefits: It may be used to heal many health disorders like liver problems, digestive disorders,
treatment for skin diseases, wound healing, atherosclerosis, bacterial
infection, and eye disorder turmeric has long been used in Medicinal
as an anti-inflammatory agent. Drinking warm milk with turmeric is believed to check minor internal bleeding.

Place of turmeric in ayurveda: The main organs that turmeric treats are the skin, heart, liver and
lungs. Turmeric is used for epilepsy and bleeding disorders, skin
diseases; to purify the body-mind is the most common use of Turmeric in
Ayurveda. Turmeric reduces fevers, diarrhea, urinary disorders, and
insanity, poisoning, cough, and lactation problems.

As a cosmetic agent: The skin is the main portion of the body and provides a shielding
barrier against harmful chemicals, microbes, and ultraviolet radiation.
Natural plant products like turmeric have been formulated to heal and
prevent dry skin, treat skin conditions such as eczema and acne, and
retard the aging process.
Turmeric is used in many celebrations of Indians . Especially in weddings across India, brides are rubbed with turmeric on their bodies for
that special bridal glow. New born babies also rubbed with turmeric on their
forehead for good luck. Traditionally women rub turmeric on their cheeks to produce a
natural golden glow, extract of turmeric has been added to creams for
use as a colouring agent. A compound called curcumin is the yellow
pigment in turmeric. Nowadays there are lots of herbal products in the
market in which main herb used is turmeric as natural ingredient.

Now for some Do-It-Yourself Turmeric skin care recipes.

Face-Wash for all SkinsMake a paste of honey and yogurt, adding a little turmeric. Apply on the face and wash it off after 15 to 20 minutes. you may add besan/chickpea flour to make it thicker. Yogurt has AHAs found in expensive anti-ageing creams. Honey has antiseptic and moisturizing properties.

Scrub for Dry SkinAdd dried bread crumbs and a pinch of turmeric in milk or cream.
Apply it on the face. let it dry for 10 minutes, moisten with milk and
rub gently on the skin, rinsing it off with water. Or alternatively, you may soak leftover chapati in the turmeric-cream mix and rub the chapati on your face.

Oily Skin TreatmentApply besan, few drops of lemon and curd curd mixed with a little turmeric on the entire face, and
wash it off with plenty of water after twenty minutes. Use it once a
day. it works as both, a face wash and pack.

Acne ControlMake a paste of kasturi turmeric powder in mint juice, apply on the pimples for
30 minutes and then wash with lukewarm water. It helps to control acne. You may even use mint juice and turmeric as an astringent. Keep in the fridge and apply as often as you want with cotton.

For Stretch MarksExtracts of turmeric have
proved useful in lightening stretch marks. But prevention is better than cure. Mix a teaspoon of turmeric in 50 ml of olive or coconut oil. apply everyday during bath time when pregnant. you wont have any stretch marks!

For Fair ComplexionA traditional
fairness secret: make a paste of sandalwood and turmeric and apply daily on the facial area for
best results. Washed off with cold water once it dries.

For Hair RemovalMix turmeric, besan and wheat flour in equal quantities with sesame oil, knead it into a dough. Use this mixture for hair removal purpose by making fingers of the dough and rolling them on your arms, legs and areas where you would like to remove hair. If done 2-3 times on babies till about one year of age, they will never have to wax!!

Ingesting Turmeric for health benefits:In India we use turmeric extensively in our food. however, a mix of milk and turmeric is considered a potent health drink. The mixture of turmeric
and milk is often touted as an all-natural cure for a variety of
ailments and to promote good general health. While many of the medical
benefits of turmeric are still unproven, it has been determined that
turmeric contains a photochemical called curcumin, which has some
benefits to the body, both inside and out, because of its high
antioxidant content. Turmeric has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for
over 5,000 years.

For Strengthening Bones and Reducing Free Radicals

One
of the numerous health benefits of turmeric and milk is the
bone-strengthening properties of the two. Mix a 1/2-inch piece of
fresh (green root) turmeric or 1/2 teaspoon turmeric powder and cup of milk in a small saucepan. Heat the mixture over
medium heat for 5 to 7 minutes until almost boiling and the turmeric has
turned yellow. Let the milk cool a bit, discard the piece of turmeric root and transfer the drink to a
glass stir in 2 teaspoons of honey. Drink regularly.

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Because
of turmeric's high antioxidant content, the combination of milk and
turmeric is commonly recommended to fight free radicals that cause
damage to skin cells and make your skin lose elasticity. It also boosts your immune system.

Sunday, 26 May 2013

Dear Friends,
CBSE has announced this year that class 11th and 12th will now do a 20 mark History project and in turn their question paper will be worth 80 marks. I have spoken to a lot of my teacher friends and many of them seemed confused about how to guide the students. So I though of trying to work it out. Here's my effort. Please feel free to use the material and send me your comments and suggestions for improvement.
Love...

GENERAL
GUIDELINES:

·The project is to be done on inter-leaf sheets.

·The total length of
the project will be 20-25 pages.

·The project should be
presented in a neatly covered shoe-lace folder.

Students
have to preserve the initial drafts of the project as well as any research
papers that they may have used.

Students
have to be prepared to give a presentation of the project in the class.

A
summary/synopsis (one page) of the project has to be prepared covering:

The
objective statement

Their
observations and findings

Any
other learning from this exercise such as skills
of team work, problem solving, time management, information collection,
processing, analyzing and synthesizing relevant information to derive
meaningful conclusions;

·Please
do not use colored sheets except for the title pages.

·The
projects must be neat and well presented and must be completely
hand-written.

·No
whiteners to be used or written matter to be crossed out. In case of any
mistakes, redo the sheet.

·Do
not number sheets or write dates unless so instructed by your teacher.

·Colour
illustrations, maps, charts may be hand drawn or printed (if it is relevant for
any aspect of your project) are welcome to make them look attractive.

Guidelines for assessment of Project will be
different for separate topics. They are as given below:

TOPIC
1: Town planning and Artifacts of the Harappan Civilization.

Objectives:

The purpose of this study is as follows:

a.It will help
students to understand the importance of artifacts as a source for studying
ancient civilizations.

b.Students will appreciate the townplanning of Harappan Civilization and can
compare it with the modern towns and
cities.

c.It will create awareness on the kind of life people led then.

Methodology:

a.Visit the
Harappan section of the National Museum in Delhi

b.Reading a story called ‘Footloose in the City’ from
the collection of stories called ‘The Forbidden Temple’ (Refer tosources) and list out the features and
characteristics of the protagonist’s lifestyle and city

c.Surf the net and can get the details about the
Harappan civilization.

d.Each team member should select any one object from the Harappan context,
and ask each other about their object. Some sample questions given below.

ØWhat is the material out of which the
object is made?

ØWhat are the different ways in which
these objects could be used?

ØHow did one find out about the uses
of the object? (Was it by comparing it with other objects, or by asking people etc?)

ØWhat does the object tell about the lifestyle
of the person who used it?

This activity would help the students to
understand how archeologists and historians look at objects in different ways
to extract information from them.

Following is the list of material remains
you may choose from:

Beads and jewelry

Sculptures and figurines

Tools and equipments

Seals and weights

Pottery and utensils

The artifacts can be analyzed keeping the
following points in mind-

*The description of the artifact

*Where the materials have come from?

*What might have they been used for?

*How could experts have found out information about
its utility?

*What specific details does it give about the
Harappan culture?

Presentation

In the form of an exhibition, the students
could create ‘An ancient Harappan market’. Stalls could be set up in the
site of the exhibition and the artifacts that the students have
collected\studied could be displayed as things that are sold in the
market. The market could include a workshop for the production of seals
too. The students could also dress up like the Harappans and pretend to be
shopkeepers, merchants,traders,artisans,musicians,peasants (who have come to sell their
grains) and town dwellers. A barter system could be shown. This exhibition
could also be put up around the model of the miniature city made by the students
using cardboards, wooden planks, sand etc. alternatively, Lego blocks can
also be used to make the model.

The students can make presentation in the form
of a Power Point report, based on the research work done.

Assessment

The total marks allotted for the project
will be 20 marks. The following are the methods and criteria for evaluation:

Research
contribution:

Each student will get marks individually
according to his/her involvement.

How have local beliefs
interacted, shaped and been influenced by other ‘greater traditions’ to form
different versions and stories of the Mahabharata and how this epic has been
projected through various forms.

Objectives:

ØIt
will help the students to understand how the great epic Mahabharata, as an oral
tradition, was transmitted from generation to generation.

ØIt
will help them to become aware of the fact that when societies meet with each
other, they combine and interact in order to form new traditions in societies.

ØIt
will help them to explore how this epic has been portrayed in different ways
across the country in different forms.

ØIt
will help them appreciate the fact that the Mahabharata was not written by one
person, but was an oral tradition, reflected in cultures across the
subcontinent in various forms like dance, music, stories, paintings etc.

ØStudents
will learn to critically analyze the position, and status of women during that
period.

ØStudents
will also be able to understand and evaluate the growth and development of the
varna system prevalent at that time.

Methodology:

1.Students can interview their parents, grandparents, relatives
and other people in their locality to know about their
stories/sources/perceptions of Mahabharat & social and political life of
the people Mahabharat.

2.Next, in groups of four or five, the students should share
and discuss their ideas & findings. If the class consists of children from
different regions, then those with similar findings and region can be grouped
together. During the discussion, the students could focus on questions like:

*Which story did the respondent choose to narrate and why?

*Had you heard this story before?

*Was this a common story that is prevalent all over India? Or
was it different?

*Did the story include things/places/temples/structures/people/practices
that are closely related to your locality or situated close to it?

*How did the respondent feel about the characters of the Mahabharat?
Do they feel their actions were justified?

3.The next step would be to find out about an art-form that
reflects stories from the Mahabharata. For instance, the Indian classical
dances have items portraying scenes from the epic. Pandavani from Jharkhand and
Yakshagana from Karnataka are two examples of traditional theatre forms that
depict tales from the epic. Besides this, each nook and corner of the country
has a temple or site with paintings and sculptures related to the Mahabharata.
In quite a few cases, the local deity is identified with a principal deity.
Students could find the information from books and the internet; or, if there
is an art form that is prevalent in the locality itself, it would be highly
advisable that the students talk to the locals about their experience, interact
with the artists and visit a workshop/site/performance. The students should be
divided into groups according to the form of art they investigated. Thus, each
group should focus on any one art form: paintings, sculptures, dances, songs or
theatre etc. In these groups, the students have to compile their findings, do
some research if necessary, and discuss and interpret the findings (keeping in
mind the objective of writing a report).

4.Preparation for the reader’s theatre can only be started when
all the students have submitted the project report. For the reader’s theatre,
the students have to prepare their own script.

*It should include a part for each student.

*It could include sound effects, (preferably drums and other
instruments played by the students themselves) and songs.

*You could look up the internet for further guidelines.
Basically, the script should include various local stories to show the
interspersing of traditions and songs and props reflecting the discussed art
forms.

5.After the script has been made, each student should be
instructed to prepare his or her own speech, which should not exceed 5 minutes.

Presentation:

1.In the form of theatrical play or in any other dance art form
(may seek help from Mr. Nair).

2.Spontaneous speeches can also be a part of presentation.

3.Panel discussion by students can also be presented.

Assessment

Students should be
assessed base on their participation in the discussions held in their groups.

Participation

2 marks

Understanding

3 marks

Group discussion (total)

5 marks

Report

The report written by the students will
be assessed according to the following criteria:

Organization and
presentation

2 marks

Content

2 marks

Interpretation,
understanding and conclusion

2 marks

Report (total)

6 marks

·Participation in Reader’s Theatre

Involvement during
preparation

2 marks

Fluency and impact of
speech

2 marks

Understanding and
creativity

2 marks

Participation in
Reader’s theatre (total)

6 marks

Overall impact and
presentation 3 marks

The overall impact of the
reader’s theatre should be assessed. These marks have to be given to the group
as a whole i.e. each student would get the same marks.

10) William Dalrymple. 2009.
Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern india. (Chapters 2 and 4).
Bloomsbury, London.

11) Amar Chitra Katha
retellings

12)Devdutt Pattnaik. Jaya.
Penguin

Internet:

1)
http://bombay.indology.info/mahabharata/statement.html

2)
http://www.indiaheritage.org/index.htm

Movies:

1.The Mahabharata.1989. Directed by
Peter Brook.

2.Mahabharat by B.R. Chopra (for
Doordarshan).

3.Bharat ki Chhaap Episode 4

4.Bharat Ek Khoj Episodes 5 and 6

Topic
3: Through the Travelers Eyes

The experiences of travelers
who visited the subcontinent and how their accounts help us to understand the
history of that region in the medieval period.

Objectives:

ØThis
project will familiarize the students with the various travelers who travelled
to this part of the world.

ØIt will help the students to understand
the trials and travails of the travelers during the medieval period It will
give them a holistic picture of the medieval era (the lifestyle of the
people, the towns, the terrain, the climate, languages spoken etc.) as they
comprehend the impressions left by travelers.

ØIt
will lead to the development of the following skills in the students:

a)Ability to gather information from various sources

b)Ability to understand and critically analyze a source by
taking into account, its context, purpose and other factors

c)Ability to synthesize all the information and present it in
an ‘easy-to-understand’ manner

d)Cooperation, teamwork and leadership qualities.

Methodology:

1.Each student in the group can choose any one of the following
travelers:

Ibn Batuta

Al Biruni

Marco Polo

Nicolo Conti

Abdur Razaq

Francois Bernier

Athanasius Nikitin

Duarte Barbosa

Jean-Baptiste Tavernier

JesuitRoberto Nobili

Manucci

Thomas Roe

Ralph Fitch

2.The students can
research on their chosen traveler. They should list down the different sources
they need to look for information, the sub-topics that need to be researched
and preparation of presentation. Information can be collected in the form of
pictures, notes, recordings, sketches etc.

3.After all the
information has been collected the group members could sit together and discuss
the findings keeping in mind the following questions:

a.Why people traveled at that time?

b.How feasible was it to travel? What were the challenges?

c.How is traveling today different?

d.What were the findings of their travels?

e.What was the purpose of writing travelogues?

f.Who were their intended audience?

g.Were they commissioned to write the travelogues? If yes, then
by whom?

4.After the discussion,
the conclusion and inferences should be systematically written down.

Presentation:

Since each student would
not be studying about all the travelers, They can form groups and make a
presentation through Role play/Radio Show or PPT.

1.Role play: The
presentation for the class can be in the form of a 10 minute skit. It could
consist of the following characters: (Only suggestion. You can be as creative
as you want)

ØThe
traveler: This student would talk about herself/himself as the traveler and
mention information about the traveler’s birth, education etc. She/he should
also use a map to show the regions that the traveler visited. Lastly the
student should speak about the traveler’s experience in first person.

ØThe
ruler: This student could represent the ruler/king of the region that the
traveler visited. This student could give a brief introduction about the
kingdom and then talk about the travelers visit to the court.

ØThe historian: This student will give the
conclusion and talk about how the imperious left by this traveler have helped
in the study of history.

2.Power point Presentation: on
the above content

Assessment

The total marks allotted
for the project will be 20 marks. The following are the criteria for
evaluation:

Power point Presentation: 20
marks

Originality and maturity
of inferences drawn and conclusion

4 marks

Diversity of sources
used, taking into consideration the sources that were accessible

4 marks

Content(other than
conclusion)

4 marks

Organization and
creativity reflected in the final file

2 marks

Project File

6 marks

Total

20 marks

Assessment for Role play: 20
marks

Content and its oral
presentation

4 marks

Organization and overall
presentation

3 marks

Creativity, props used

3 marks

Role play (total)

10 marks

Project File

10 marks

Total

20 marks

Sources:

Books:

1)
Muzaffar Alam and Sanjay Subrahmanyam. 2006. Indo-Persian Travels in the Age of
Discoveries, 1400-1800. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.

(a)
This project will help the students to comprehend, analyze and be aware of the
ways and means by which the poets and saints of the Bhakti and Sufi movement
tried to disseminate their ideas and how these ideas changed the society.

(b)
Students can appreciate how art, literature and stories played an important
role in communication and shaped their ideas.

(c) It will help them to
critically study the sources in detail and draw inferences from it.

2.Visit to a Dargah in your local area (for information on Sufi
music)

3.The students can write
a short description of the chosen/visited dargah and then reflect on the
activities observed there and relate it with information in textbooks.

4.As per guidance from the class XII history textbook and other
sources the student could find out more information and research about the poetic/musical
composition and discourses that is the focus of his/her study and other similar
compositions from the same tradition.

5.A report must be prepared by each student individually. It
must include the following components:

a.An introduction about the bhakti and sufi
tradition.

b.A description about the composition and where
it was procured from and its meaning should be written.

c.The opinions and reflections made by different
people in the locality of the dargah, local stories related to the dargah could
also be included.

d.Lastly, a section about how such compositions helped in
propagating ideas related to a tradition.

Presentation:

The presentation should be
divided into three parts:

1.Project report:
This should consist of a formal report with all the information under various
sub-headings as per project guidelines. The inferences drawn should be included
in the conclusion. It would be advisable that the students incorporate
sketches, photographs maps, etc. in the report.

2.Group Discussion: Five
to six students could be put together in a group and asked to discuss their
findings. Each student would be given 2 to 3 minutes. A general discussion
would follow, after which each student has to give a conclusion.

3.Viva-voce: A
short viva would be conducted by the teacher in order to understand the student
specific questions related to his/her report.

Assessment

The total marks allotted
for the project will be 20 marks. The following are the methods and criteria
for evaluation:

1.familiarize the students with the various aspects of the
Mughal Empire such as administration, court proceedings, domestic life, life of
commoners, war and trade etc.

2.understand the ways and means by which the emperors tried to
shape and disseminate ideas that they wanted the people to believe in.

3.comprehend the relations between various players in the
empire- the state, the merchants, the peasants, the Sufi saints, the
neighboring empires, poets and artists etc.

Methodology:

1.This project could be presented in the form of an exhibition
at the end. Each student could be assigned a particular sub-topic eg. political
life or social-norms, or cultural scene, through miniature paintings.

2.Each student should first try and identify all the miniature
paintings related to their sub-topic from the text book and beyond and then
move on to scrutinizing them. Their descriptions should be written down with
emphasis on the colors, patterns and activity portrayed.

3.These observations should be combined with information from
other types of sources like the internet etc and with inferences drawn from
discussions with experts (if possible). At the end, the student could produce a
concise write-up about their subtopic, constantly giving examples from
paintings. Emphasis should be given on how these paintings must have impacted
people.

4.After this, an exhibition could be put up.

Presentation:

Students would be
evaluated based on three things:

1.Group topic: The work of each group would be evaluated
separately. The choice of paintings, inferences drawn and interpretation and
presentation would be judged.

2.Contribution to the exhibition: Each group would also be evaluated
on the basis their contribution and efficiency and involvement while putting up
the final exhibition

3.Individual presentation: Every student should present and
explain a part of the section that his/her group is in charge of.

Assessment

The total marks allotted
for the project will be 20 marks. The following are the methods and criteria
for evaluation:

Group work

Originality and maturity
of inferences drawn and conclusion

2 marks

How well have the
paintings been related to the information about the subtopic

2 marks

Content(other than
conclusion)

2 marks

Organization and
creativity reflected in the presentation

2 marks

Group work (total)

8 marks

Individual presentation/explanation- Marks to be given individually

Content and its
oral presentation

2 marks

Understanding of
the topic

2 marks

Individual
presentation/explanation (total)

4 marks

Individual contribution 4 marks

These marks have to be entered by the
teacher based on his/her observation of each student while the exhibition was
being put up.

Overall impact and presentation

These marks are to be
given to the class as a whole i.e. each student will get the same marks based
on their coordinated effort.

TOPIC
6: How
the Partition in 1947 was not just a division of territory but also a division
of hearts and how it affected the common people.

Objectives:

This project will make
students of this generation aware of the reasons, processes, decisions involved
in the partition of our country and the consequences of this tragic phenomenon.
The purpose of this project would be to supplement and deepen this understanding
of the partition.

ØIt
will help the students empathize and look at this event from the eyes of those
who experienced it and were affected by it.

ØIt
will enable them to understand and comprehend the hardships borne by the people
during partition

ØIt
will help students critically analyze the importance of the experiences of
people as a source for rebuilding the past

ØIt
will familiarize them with the perceptions to people about the partition today

Methodology:

As a part of their holiday
assignment, the students could be asked to read/watch one or more of the books
mentioned in the Sources section of the textbook. They could also go through
the anecdotes in the textbook (even the Political Science textbook- Indian
Politics since Independence has anecdotes in the first chapter itself)

1.Data Collection

Each student can ask their
grandparents or other elders about their experiences of Partition. Questions
such as the following could be asked:

vWhere
were you living and what were you doing (school/college student, employed,
married etc.) when the Partition took place?

vWere
you required to migrate? Or were you in a locality from where others migrated
and then new people came?

vShare
some experiences related to Partition was it a period full of violence and
riots?

vWhat
were the different changes that partition brought about?

vWhat
do you feel about it today?

The students should note that these
are just some examples of questions that could be asked. They are free to
innovate and come up with their own questions. Also, open ended questions
should be asked so that the respondents can freely express themselves and
emotionally connect to their narration if possible. The experiences should be
meticulously recorded (use the recorder in your mobile phone).

After this each
student could prepare a set of three to five questions about how
individuals relate to the Partition and what they think of it today (do
run he questions past your teacher). This survey like study could be
carried out in the locality or it could also be done in schools. The
reasons behind a person’s opinion should also be noted. Again, people from
different communities could be consulted so as to get a complete picture (
talk to at least 10 people).

After this
primary researching, the students should discuss the findings. A group
leader would speak about the gist of a discussion and the inferences drawn
from it.

Based on
these findings, the students could either write a report or a story
individually.

Simultaneously,
the group could decide on one or two anecdotes and make a script for a
play.

Presentation:

The report that the
students submit should be concise & well organized. Interviews can be
recorded and played by the students for a better impact in both types of
presentations.

As for the play/skit,
students can experiment with props and costumes as well. The skit could include
songs and poems (if possible).

Assessment:

ØParticipation
in discussions 3 marks

ØOriginality
and understanding reflected while researching- 3 marks

ØSkit

Understanding
and script

2 marks

Presentation,
individual part and acting

2 marks

Overall impact

2 marks

Skit (total)

6 marks

Report/Script

Content

2 marks

Inferences drawn

2 marks

Organization and
innovation

2 marks

Report/script (total)

6 marks

Thus, evaluation would be based on:

Participation in
discussions-

3 marks

Originality and
understanding reflected while researching

3 marks

Skit

6 marks

Report/Script

6 marks

Viva-voce

2 marks

Total

20 marks

Sources:

Books:

1.Jasodhara Bagchi and Subhoranjan
Dasgupta (eds.). 2003. The Trauma and the Triumph: Gender and Partition in
Eastern India .Street, Kolkata.

(Acknowledging the
institution, the places visited and the persons who have helped).

Section 5:

PREFACE:

1.Name Of Project:

2.Problem Statement / Objective Of Project:

Section
6:

INTRODUCTION:

ØObjective of doing the project.

ØIntroduce the topic studies giving
some historical background if possible.

Section 7:

PLANNING AND ACTIVITIES
DONE DURING THE PROJECT

(
if any)

Section 8:

OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS

Section 9:

CONCLUSIONS

(summarised
suggestions or findings, future scope of study).

Section 10:

LEARNINGFROM PROJECT

Section 11:

APPENDIX

1.Persons Consulted:

2.Bibliography (Books/ Websites/films referred to)

Section 12:

TEACHER’S OBSERVATION.

Name
of Teacher:

Signature:

Additional tips:

PREFACE:

1.Name of Project:

2.Problem Statement / Objective of Project:

The objective of
the project is know the: (quote from the objectives given for your topic)

INDEX:

S.NO

PARTICULARS

PAGE
NO

1.

Acknowledgements

2.

Preface

3.

Introduction

4.

Planning
And Activities Done During The Project

5.

Observations And Findings

6.

Conclusions

7.

Learnings From The Project

8.

Appendix

9.

Teacher’s Observations

Acknowledgements

Acknowledging
the institution, the places visited and the persons who have helped

Introduction

·Objective of doing the project (Why did you
choose this topic?)

·Introduce the topic studied.

oGive a brief historical background of
theof the topic studied

oGive details about the organizations or
institutions studied.

Planning
And Activities Done During The Project

·You
need to give details here about what were the activities that you undertook to
do your project.

·Give
them in a detailed sequence.

Observations
and Findings

·You
need to analyze the responses and derive conclusions that will be the data for
future decisions. This may be done question wise or on any other relevant basis.

Learning from the Project

Can
be given as:

·How
you have been able to relate the theory in your syllabus to your own experience
of working on the topic.

·Any
other skills developed such as such as skills
of team work, problem solving, time management, information collection,
processing, analyzing and synthesizing relevant information to derive
meaningful conclusions etc.